The Cartoon Art Museum and The Hero Initiative proudly present the museum’s Annual WonderCon Weekend Party, which will be held on Friday, April 2, from 8pm to 11pm. A portion of the proceeds from this special event will go to comic book artist Ed Hannigan, whose work is featured in the Cartoon Art Museum’s current exhibition Ed Hannigan: Covered.

Tickets for this event will be sold on a sliding scale. Ed Hannigan, who is suffering from multiple sclerosis, will receive a portion of the proceeds of all ticket sales above $20. Those who donate $35 or more will receive a special gift bag courtesy of the Cartoon Art Museum. A silent auction will be held at the party, and all proceeds from the auction will go directly Hannigan.

Many of the top talents from DC Comics and Marvel Comics will be in attendance as special guests of the Cartoon Art Museum and the Hero Initiative. Confirmed guests at press time include Arthur Adams, Amanda Conner, Sergio Aragones, Joyce Chin, Jimmy Palmiotti, Greg Rucka, Gail Simone, Jen Van Meter, and more to be announced.

Food and beverages will be provided by San Francisco-area vendors. Please visit www.cartoonart.org for a list of additional sponsors as they are announced.About Ed Hannigan: Covered:

Hannigan worked extensively for Marvel Comics and DC Comics throughout the 1970s and 1980s, on such fondly remembered titles as Green Arrow, The Defenders and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man. Today, Hannigan is 58 years old and has multiple sclerosis. The Hero Initiative, a charitable organization that provides financial assistance to comic book professionals in need, and Marvel Comics have collaborated on a tribute book, Ed Hannigan: Covered, that features highlights from Hannigan’s artistic career. The Cartoon Art Museum will display some of Hannigan’s most notable covers alongside the cover and complete interior artwork for one of his most famous single-issue stories, The Spectacular Spider-Man #64, which introduced the crime-fighting duo Cloak and Dagger.

Sponsorship for this exhibition has been provided by The Comic Outpost. The Comic Outpost, located on 2381 Ocean Ave. San Francisco, CA has been fulfilling the needs of comic book lovers for well over 15 years. Current owners Gary Buechler and Roger Yan firmly believe their customer service and subscriber program is second to none. For more questions, visit their website at www.comicoutpost.net or call (415) 239-2669.

Also on display at the Cartoon Art Museum:

Batman: Yesterday and Tomorrow examines the works of six influential artists and their interpretations of Gotham City’s Dark Knight, including “Bat-Manga” by Jiro Kuwata, The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, Batman: Digital Justice by Pepe Moreno, a short story by Neal Adams, Batman: Year 100 by Paul Pope, and a re-creation of the first Batman story, illustrated by Bob Kane.

Drawing the Sword: Samurai in Anime and Manga explores the complex evolution of Japanese artistic traditions by demonstrating the ever-changing image of the iconic samurai, from classic Japanese woodblock prints through contemporary animation and comic book art.

Please visit http://www.cartoonart.org or call (415) CAR-TOON for an updated list of special guests and events, as well as additional information about the museum.

About WonderCon:

WonderCon, the first major comics and pop culture convention of 2008, takes place April 2-4, 2010 at San Francisco's Moscone Center South. For more information on WonderCon, please visit Comic-Con International's official website, http://www.comic-con.org

About The Hero Initative

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strict to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $400,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.